NESTOR FALLS – Was it a superstorm, a straight-line wind storm, a Tornado? This question has left the residents of Nestor Falls baffled as they begin to clean up the mess left behind by the wild weather event early Mon. morning.
Minister of Northern Development Greg Rickford explains that the storm is called a Super Cell Storm.
“In a nutshell, what we experienced is what they are calling a Super Cell Storm,” said Rickford. “In the plainest terms, it looks a lot like a tornado and it looks a lot like a tornado’s damages. It is a unique kind of thunderstorm which, of course, has been in the area for a couple of days, and it’s characterized by a deep and persistent up-draft which makes it feel like a tornado.”
The Super Cell Storm left untold damage to the area as it blew through starting from Caliper Lake and moved across into Nestor Falls where it finally settled in an airstrip on Highway 71.
On the small island of Obabikon Bay, Jared Amason explains his small four-acre family-run lodge and resort had a fourth of the trees around the island split in half or completely blown over from the base of the tree.
Right before the wind storm, Amason was welcoming the wind after a day of record highs of heat.
“We were sitting there watching the storm roll in; actually, we were ready for it. We thought it might cool us down a little bit because it had been so hot. It was really calm. It was just like a really normal storm coming in. It wasn’t going to be big and violent,” Amason accounts. “Then it all happened in about three minutes. It went from just kind of a normal storm to winds that I have never seen.”
Amason has lived in Nestor Falls his entire life. He explains the power of the wind rushed in out of nowhere blowing debris around his property.
“I started to walk out to try to save the docks and almost got blown off the docks,” Amason said. “So, I turned around and came back into the office because I knew I couldn’t do anything. And then, a couple of sheets of metal from tin roofs came flying at us and I just told everybody to stay inside because it was too dangerous outside to try to fight it.”
Amason also went on to say that the storm lasted 10 minutes. That’s all it took to create so much damage to the town and surrounding area.
“We have three docks on the north end of our island. All three docks were ripped away from the island and broken into pieces all at the same time with the boats still attached to them,” said Amason. “I had three boats lifted and thrown kind of onto a tree on the bank.”
Vic and Dot’s Camp, a local Fishing Resort on Whitefish Bay, shared some aftermath photos on their Facebook page with a caption that reads, “Last night the east side of Lake of the Woods experienced some severe weather. The Community of Nestor Falls was hit directly. There are pictures from both Caliper Lake Park and some of the camps within Nestor Falls. I checked on several island cabins on the south end of Whitefish Bay. Last point looks to be the hardest hit with many trees down.”
Although, Vic & Dot’s Camp was safe from destruction, the owner posted several photos of massive pine trees that were blown over onto campers, roads, and cabins.
The owner, Vic, said one of the cabins he witnessed had the wall flipped over and the roof was blown off with pieces scattered across the road.
“It’s a total write-off,” he admits.
Sioux Narrows – Nestor Falls Fire Rescue Service has been extremely busy with the clean-up effort.
On the Facebook page, they share some of their photo of the aftermath.
“As this chaotic event is being shared throughout the districts, there is still a lot of clean-up to do at Caliper Lake Park Nestor Falls,” stated Sioux Narrows – Nestor Falls Fire Rescue Service. “This is Day 1, a few volunteers came out to clear trees off the roads, a few MNRF crews were on site to do the same, SNNF Township maintenance crew was also clearing trees with a skid steer and a mini excavator.”
The Township of Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls provided several updates throughout the day making sure that the public is aware of the situation as everything unfolds.
At the moment, Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls has declared a state of emergency.
Notably, the Township said, “An urgent request has been made to the Province of Ontario for assistance. Provincial assets are much needed and the Township will provide updates as they are available. We would like to recognize the support and generosity of volunteers and private businesses. Businesses from the region are assisting in the clean-up efforts - with a focus on the epicentre of where the storm hit.”
Minister Rickford expresses his concerns for the residents of Nestor Falls stating that he is employing a whole government approach to the developing situation.
“We made contact with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, said Rickford. “We are mobilizing some fire crews there who have expertise with chainsaws and are helping to detangle [the trees]. We’ve coordinated response with Hydro One. We’ve mobilized some people into the area since electricity in the area, and outages are significant. Because this involved a provincial park, the Ministry of Environment, Conversation, and Parks has been advised and informed to take a look at whatever recourses if any, may be required. And, of course, the provincial emergency operations.”
As the situation evolves, a save recovery for the town is the priority for the municipal council and the province, but the extent of the damage has yet to be totalled.
